Inhibition of azoxymethane-induced colon cancer by orange juice

Previous research has shown that hesperidin, a flavanone glycoside in orange juice, inhibits colon carcinogenesis and that feeding double-strength orange juice delays the onset of chemically induced mammary cancer in rats. This study determined whether feeding single-strength, pasteurized orange juice would inhibit azoxymethane (AOM)-induced colon cancer in male Fischer 344 rats. Colon cancer was initiated by injecting AOM (15 mg/kg body wt) at 22 and 29 days of age. One week after the second AOM injection, orange juice replaced drinking water for the experimental group (n = 30). The rats were killed 28 weeks later, and tumors were removed for histological analysis. Feeding orange juice reduced tumor incidence by 22% (p < 0.05). Tumor reduction was associated with a decreased labeling index and proliferation zone in the colonic mucosa. Hesperidin, other flavonoids, limonin 17-beta-D-glucopyranoside, and other limonoid glucosides are potential chemopreventive agents in orange juice that could account for the decreased colon tumorigenesis associated with feeding orange juice.     

Interactions of herbal extract combinations against free radical scavenging activity

Herbal medicines are often combinations of herbal extracts that are assumed to have additive or synergistic effects. This investigation compared the effect of individual herbal extracts with combinations of extracts on antioxidant activity by 1,1-diphenyl picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) method and showed the additive or synergistic effects by studying interactions between herbal extracts in combination. Curcuma longa Linn. (Zingiberaceae), Bacopa monneira Linn. Penn. (Scrophulariaceae), Zingiber officinale Rosc. (Zingiberaceae) and Emblica officinalis Gaertn. (Euphorbiaceae) were collected and used to prepare the extracts. Effects of the extracts on DPPH scavenging activity were estimated quantitatively by a UV-spectrophotometeric method. Combinations of two herbal extracts of the four active extracts and their interactions were tested by the DPPH method. Each extract significantly scavenges the free radical activity in a dose-dependent manner. The active extracts of Curcuma longa, Bacopa monneira, Zingiber officinale and Emblica officinalis were tested as two-extract combinations. Curcuma longa and Bacopa monneiera, when combined, showed additive effect with a trend towards synergistic effect, whereas Curcuma longa and Emblica officinalis together were additive. The four extracts together were significantly (p?≤?0.01) more effective than the two-by-two combinations and the individual extracts alone. The less predictable nature of the two-way combinations suggests a need for careful characterization of the effects of each individual herb based on their intended use.     

A panoramic view on phytochemical,nutritional, and therapeutic attributes of Ziziphus mauritiana Lam.: A comprehensive review

Ziziphus mauritiana (Rhamnaceae), commonly known as Indian jujube, is a pharmacologically diverse medicinal plant. A plethora of active phytochemical constituents of this plant has been revealed so far, namely, berberine, quercetin, kaempferol, sitosterol, stigmasterol, lanosterol, diosgenin, and so forth. Several studies demonstrated the exploration of pharmacological potential of various parts such as fruits, leaves, and stems of the plant as antioxidant, cytotoxic, antimicrobial, anti‐diarrhoeal, antidepressant, immunomodulator, and hepatoprotective. This review gives a unique summary including phytochemistry, nutritional value, and significant pharmacological importance of Z. mauritiana. The literature search was carried out via search engine PubMed, Science Direct, and so on. The data were heterogeneous in terms of leaves, stem, roots, and fruits which were used for different experimental findings, which made the comparison a lengthy task. Study findings suggested that the extracts from this plant may possess numerous types of pharmacological activities. As the search for novel drugs from botanical sources continues, there is need for future investigations to isolate and characterize pharmacologically active agents that confer medicinal properties on Z. mauritiana, as well as to elucidate the structures of these agents by which they exert their healing properties and to scientifically validate the existing traditional practices concerning its health benefits.     

Isolation and characterization of process-related impurities in linezolid

Two unknown impurities in linezolid bulk drug at levels below 0.1% (ranging from 0.05 to 0.1%) were detected by a simple isocratic reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). These impurities were isolated from crude sample of linezolid using reverse phase preparative HPLC. Based on the spectroscopic data (IR, NMR and MS) the structures of the impurities were characterized as (S)-N-[[-(3-(3-fluoro-4-(4-morpholinyl)phenyl]-2-oxo-5-oxazolidinyl]methyl] acetate(I) and (S)-N-[[-(3-(3-fluoro-4-(4-morpholinyl)phenyl]-2-oxo-5-oxazolidinyl]methyl] chloride(II). The synthesis from an unambiguous route and the formation of impurities was discussed.     

The possibilities of shortening the treatment periods in patients with tuberculosis of the peripheral lymph nodes

Outcomes of shorter periods of treatment of patients with tuberculosis of the peripheral lymph nodes are presented. It is possible to reduce the period of treatment provided early surgical intervention is performed to remove the affected nodes. One recurring case detected after the long-term therapy. The counterindications for reduction of treatment periods of the above disease are generalization of the process and Mycobacterium resistance to tuberculostatic drugs.     

Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy In Situs Inversus—Our Experience of 6 Cases

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is the standard procedure for symptomatic gall stone disease. Situs inversus is a condition where the visceral anatomy is reversed. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy in a patient of situs inversus is a technically difficult procedure. Six patients of situs inversus underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy from January 2003 to December 2009. In the first patient of situs inversus, we operated by placing the ports in mirror image fashion as that of standard laparoscopic cholecystectomy. However in next five patients we modified the technique by interchanging the epigastric and left mid clavicular line ports to overcome the problem of handedness. The procedure was successfully completed in all six patients. No intraoperative or postoperative complications occurred. The mean operating time was 65 mins (45–85 mins). Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is safe in patients of situs inversus. However, extreme care and skill is required to identify the reversed anatomy and to overcome the problem of handedness. Interchanging the epigastric and left mid clavicular line ports makes the procedure easier.     

Severity of acute hepatitis and its outcome in patients with dengue fever in a tertiary care hospital Karachi,Pakistan (South Asia)

Background  

Liver injury due to dengue viral infection is not uncommon. Acute liver injury is a severe complicating factor in dengue, predisposing to life-threatening hemorrhage, Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC) and encephalopathy. Therefore we sought to determine the frequency of hepatitis in dengue infection and to compare the outcome (length of stay, in hospital mortality, complications) between patients of Dengue who have mild/moderate (ALT 23-300 IU/L) v/s severe acute hepatitis (ALT > 300 IU/L).     

Effects of the HIV-1 Protein Tat on Myocardial Function and Response to Endotoxin

HIV-1 infection has been associated with cardiomyopathy in a subset of patients. In order to determine whether HIV-1 alters myocardial function or the myocardial response to stress, transgenic mice that express the HIV-1 protein Tat were used. Heart function was assessed using the isolated working heart preparation. Response to infection was assessed by measuring heart function at various times after endotoxin administration. Since cytokines are implicated in myocardial dysfunction, plasma tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) and myocardial mRNA and protein levels of TNF-alpha and IL-6 were determined. Tat by itself did not cause myocardial dysfunction; however, 4 h after endotoxin, myocardial function was more severely compromised in the Tat mice than in control mice. Plasma TNF-alpha levels were elevated at 2 h and higher in the control group but myocardial levels were similar in the two groups. Plasma IL-6 was increased but myocardial levels were different only at 24 h at which time myocardial function was no longer depressed. Tat expression, by itself, did not impair intrinsic myocardial function but did increase myocardial injury induced by endotoxin. Although cytokines are associated with dysfunction, TNF-alpha and IL-6 were probably not responsible for the exaggerated dysfunction in Tat mice receiving endotoxin.     

Differential toxicity profile of ricin isoforms correlates with their glycosylation levels

Ricin is one of the most potent and deadly plant toxins from the seeds of Ricinus communis. In view of its high toxicity, ricin is being used as an immunotoxin in cancer therapy. Ricin also has several isoforms with differential glycosylation depending on the seed variety. Our study shows three isoforms designated 1, 2 and 3, which differed in their surface charge, resulting in a different behavior on cation exchange chromatography, two dimensional (pI 5.5-8.7) and native PAGE. The molecular masses of isoform-1, 2 and 3 were measured as 63.55 kDa, 64.03 kDa and 62.8 kDa, respectively, by MALDI-TOF/MS. In vitro studies with monkey kidney (Vero) cells showed a time dependent increase in cytotoxicity of the isoforms evaluated by extracellular lactate dehydrogenase activity and mitochondrial dehydrogenase assay. These isoforms also induce oxidative stress and DNA damage. Among the isoforms, isoform-3 was quick to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS), (in 90 min) and exhibited maximum cytotoxicity. Morphological changes, catalase activity and DNA fragmentation were significantly higher with isoform-3 treatment compared to others. The glycosylation studies by MALDI-TOF/MS showed that isoform-3 is highly glycosylated with high sugar levels containing more of hybrid/complex type glycopeptides with mannose as hexose units. These experimental evidences clearly suggest that isoform-3 is superior in its early ROS generation, potency to induce oxidative stress and cytotoxicity, that could be due to it's higher glycosylation levels which make isoform-3 as an ideal candidate for immunotoxin studies.